Securement device

ABSTRACT

A securement device for retaining a unit in a predetermined position proximate to a support, while the unit maintains isolated electrical contact with the support. The device includes a bracket with one or more electrical contacts in opposed alignment with a stop bolt. The contacts are connected to the unit. Surrounding the contact is the receiving portion of the bracket forming a channel within which the support is located. The stop screw securely positions the support, the contact abutting an isolated electrical line in the support.

United States Patent Barski 1 Aug. 22, 1972 SECUREMENT DEVICE 2,5 89,122 3/1952 Olson 173/259 [72] Inventor: Jakier Barski, 9 Weller Terrace,

Saddlebrook, NJ. 07662 [22] Filed: Feb. 9, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 9,645

[52] US. Cl. ..339/21 R, 339/244 U, 339/264 R, 66/163 [51] Int. Cl. ..H0lr 7/08 [58] Field of Search ..339/21, 263, 264, 266, 270, 339/227, 136, 247, 244; 66/153, 163, 161

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,950,964 3/1934 Blackburn ..339/264 L 2,117,725 5/1938 Johnson ..339/244 U 2,381,331 8/1945 Ayers ..339/249 2,476,863 7/1949 Hawes ..287/54 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Moore Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Hafer Att0meyMeyer A. Gross [57] ABSTRACT A securement device for retaining a unit in a predetermined position proximate to a support, while the unit maintains isolated electrical contact with the support. The device includes a bracket with one or more electrical contacts in opposed alignment with a stop bolt. The contacts are connected to the unit. Surrounding the contact is the receiving portion of the bracket forming a channel within which the support is located. The stop screw securely positions the support, the contact abutting an isolated electrical line in the support.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures SECUREMENT DEVICE The present invention relates to securement devices, and in particular to a novel and improved securement device which can carry an electrically operable unit in a predetermined position, and allow isolated electrical contact with the support, securely maintaining the unit in the desired position in relation to the support. This invention has particular application in connection with knitting machines, but the use is not limited thereto.

Previous devices to accomplish this result consist of the sandwiching of an element between two flat plates. The obvious deficiencies in this unit included the lack of a positive securement leading to the very real possibility of movement of the unit out of its predetermined position.

Accordingly, among the principal objects of the present invention is to provide an economical and simple securement device which will grip a support in a positive, non-movable manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an invention of the type described which allows an electrical contact with an isolated contact line on the support.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a securement device which will be simple and economical to manufacture and yet be durable to a high degree in use.

In accordance with the principals of the preset invention, there is provided a securement device positioned on one end of the carrier. An electrically operable unit such as a stop action switch is secured to the other end. One or more electrical contact lines are secured to the unit and pass from the unit along the carrier to the securement device and are preferably shielded along the length of the carrier. The securement device includes a bracket having a stop means portion and a receiving portion. The receiving portion forms a channel to which the support is positioned. The receiving portion is of sufficient width to just comfortably receive the channel. Furthermore, the receiving portion may have an arcuate section with an elongated slot therein receiving the electrical contact line from the electrical unit. The stop means securely positions the support within the receiving portion, causing an isolated electrical contact line to make electrical contact with the contact from the electrical unit.

This support generally consists of a ring with an inner mounted dielectric and the electrical contact isolated thereon. The ring is received within the channels of the receiving portion. However, the unit may be modified so that the channels receive the dielectric portion, and there may be more than one electrical contact line imbedded therein making electrical contact with more than one contact from the electrical unit.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the securement device embodying the present invention and the stop action unit mounted on the carrier.

FIG. 2 is a top planned view of the securement device with the carrier cut away.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the securement device, showing the shielding under the carrier means.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, cut away and partly in section of the securement device.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a modified embodiment of the securement device, with the carrier means partly cut away. 4

FIG. 7 is an elevational view taken along the line 7- 7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view taken along the lines 88 of FIG.- 9; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the modified embodiment of FIG. 6 showing two electrical contacts and a support positioned within the securement device.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a securement device 10 which is mounted on a carrier plate 12 by means of welding, gluing, riveting, or any other well-known means. An electrically operable unit 14 is secured to the other end of the carrier by means of screws 16 or the like. In the present situation, the unit 14 is a stop'action switch. These switches are well-known in the art and do not form a part of the present invention.

The plate 12 as illustrated, has three perforations 18, 20, 22. The plate is further shaped, as by a drop forging, to form an elongated channel 24 between the perforations l8 and 20 and a lower channel 26 between the perforation 18 and the left end section 28 of the plate. An electrical contact wire 30 secured to the unit 14, as at 32, passes upwardly through the perforation 22 along the top of the plate and into the channel 24, then down to the perforation 18 and into the channel 26, and thence outwardly and upwardly as will be explained below.

Turning in detail to the securement device 10, it consists of three portions, namely the stop means portion 32, the support portion 34, and the receiving portion 36. The stop means portion 32 is defined by side surfaces 38, 40, and edges 42, 44 terminating in an arcuate upper edge 46. Furthermore, the portion 32 carries an aperture 48 which is threaded.

The support portion 34 is at right angles to the portion 32 and consists of an upper surface 50, a lower surface 52, and edges 54, 56.

The receiving portion 36 is also generally at right angles to the support portion 34 and is parallel to the stop means portion 32. The portion 36 includes an upstanding vertical lower section 58 having an inner surface 60 and an outer surface 62. Depending upwardly from the section 58 is an arcuate section 64 having an outer surface 66 and an inner surface 68, and having an elongated slot 70 defined therein. Depending upwardly from the section 66 is an upper vertical section 72 having an outer surface 74 and an inner surface 76. The sections 58, 72 are in alignment with each other.

Extending inwardly towards the portion 32 from the section 72 is a shoulder section 78, perpendicular to the section 72 and parallel to the portion 34. The section 78 has an upper surface 80 and a lower surface 82. The portion 36 is bounded by side edges 84, 86 and terminates at an edge 88 on the shoulder 78.

A standard stop action type bolt 90 having a head 92 with a knurled edge and a threaded bolt portion 94 passes through the aperture 48. The invention is not limited to the bolt as a stop means, and it is shown as an acceptable way of retaining the support within the bracket.

The wire 30 may be bent upwardly as at 96 and the insulation may be stripped away exposing the inner conductive wire 98.

The support is usually a ring having a rectangular cross-sectional configuration, and is commonly found on most types of knitting machines. This element of course is not limited to knitting machines, but may be utilized in any machine having any type of support with an isolated electrical contact thereon, and the requirement to make electrical contact to an electrically operable unit therefrom.

In the present invention, the ring is best illustrated in FIGS. 4-5, and consists of a channel element 100 having a bottom section 102 and upstanding side sections 104, 106. The inner surfaces of the sections are ridged to receive a longitudinally extending dielectric 108, such as rubber or porcelain. The dielectric has a longitudinally extending channel 110 receiving an electrically conductive wire 112. As shown in FIG. 5, the dimensions of the outer surfaces of the support 104, 106 are just slightly smaller than the distance between the surfaces 82, 50. When the support is placed therein and the bolt 90 is rotated until it abuts against the section 102, a snug, secure, positive fit is insured, and the electrical contact 112 abuts the electrical contact 98, insuring an electrically conductive connection between the contact 112 and the unit 14.

It is possible to eliminate portion 34 and to secure the portion 32, 36 directly to the carrier, although use of the support section 34 simplifies production of the invention.

Turning to FIGS. 6-9, there is shown a modified embodiment of the invention, in which the carrier is utilized as part of the securement device, and further showing the use of the invention with more than one electrical contact, allowing for the grounding of the unit.

Similar parts will be assigned similar reference numerals, with the addition of the prefix numeral 2.

In this embodiment the carrier plate has secured thereto an electrically operable unit, and in this case it may be a stop action switch having two separate electrical outlets thereon. The electrically conductive wires may be carried in a single wire 120 and may be separated into electrical contact wires 122, 124 within a protective housing 126. The wires may be electrically secured to contacts 128, 130.

The carrier plate 212 may be bent at right angles as at 132, forming a perpendicular section 134, which may again be bent at right angles as at 136 to form a bolt receiving portion 138 having an aperture 140. The plate 212 may have an aperture 142 through the wire 120 passes and the electrically conductive wires 122, 124 may be secured to contacts 144, 146 on the electrically operable unit.

Positioned within the angle formed by the plate 212 and the section 134 is a channel member 148 having a base portion 150 and side portions 152, 154. The member 148 may be secured in position against the surfaces of plate by means of welding, glue, rivets, etc. An aperture 156 is positioned within the bottom portion 150 through which is positioned a plug 158 forming part of the assembly 126. The plug 158 is made of a dielectric material, and has apertures 160 through which the contacts 128, 130 pass into the interior space of the member 148 defined by the inner surfaces 162,

This modified embodiment is capable of engaging a differently designed type of support having a plate 168, a dielectric 170 secured to the plate, and sides to be received within the space defined by the surfaces 162, 164, 166. Furthermore, the dielectric has two channels 172 defined therein carrying electrically conductive wires 174, 176. When the support is placed within the member 148 and the bolt is rotated to securely mount the support in position, the wires 174, 176 contact the contacts 128, 130 and hence are electrically connected via the wire and the contacts 144, 146 to the electrically operable unit.

When it is desired to send an electrical signal to the electrically operable units, or when it is desired to change an electrical contact or break an electrical signal by means of mechanical, or other type of movement of the electrically operable unit, the signal can be passed out of the unit into the isolated contact on the support, while eliminating any problems concerning movement of the unit from its original, predetermined position.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that numerous omissions, changes and additions may be made in such embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A securement device for retaining a unit in a predetermined position proximate to a support comprising:

a. carrier means,

b. an electrically operable unit secured to one end of the carrier means;

. a securement device including a bracket secured to the other end of the carrier means, the bracket including a receiving portion angularly disposed to the carrier means, a support portion secured to the carrier means and at one end of the receiving portion, a stop means portion secured to the other end of the support portion and angularly disposed to the carrier means;

d. the receiving portion having means to establish electrical contact with the support, said means being isolated from the securement device the stop means carrying means to retain the support in a positive, non-movable position within the bracket and in isolated electrical contact with the contact means.

2. The invention according to claim 1, the stop means portion including a threaded aperture, the stop means including a bolt having a threaded body received within the aperture.

3. The invention according to claim 1, the receiving portion having an elongated slot defined therein, shielded electrical contact means secured to the unit, passing along the carrier means and up into the slot, the electrical contact means being unshielded within the slot.

4. The invention according to claim 3, the receiving portion including an upstanding vertical lower section depending from the support portion, an arcuate section depending from the lower section, the slot being defined therein, an upstanding vertical upper section depending from the arcuate section.

means including a bolt having a threaded body received within the aperture.

8. The invention according to claim 6, a dielectric plug received within an aperture defined in said channel member, and having at least one electrical contact extending therethrough into the interior of said channel member. 

1. A securement device for retaining a unit in a predetermined position proximate to a support comprising: a. carrier means; b. an electrically operable unit secured to one end of the carrier means; c. a securement device including a bracket secured to the other end of the carrier means, the bracket including a receiving portion angularly disposed to the carrier means, a support portion secured to the carrier means and at one end of the receiving portion, a stop means portion secured to the other end of the support portion and angularly disposed to the carrier means; d. the receiving portion having means to establish electrical contact with the support, said means being isolated from the securement device the stop means carrying means to retain the support in a positive, non-movable position within the bracket and in isolated electrical contact with the contact means.
 2. The invention according to claim 1, the stop means portion including a threaded aperture, the stop means including a bolt having a threaded body received within the aperture.
 3. The invention according to claim 1, the receiving portion having an elongated slot defined therein, shielded electrical contact means secured to the unit, passing along the carrier means and up into the slot, the electrical contact means being unshielded within the slot.
 4. The invention according to claim 3, the receiving portion including an upstanding vertical lower section depending from the support portion, an arcuate section depending from the lower section, the slot being defined therein, an upstanding vertical upper section depending from the arcuate section.
 5. The invention according to claim 4, an outwardly extending shoulder section depending from the upper vertical section, substantially perpendicular thereto and parallel to the support portion.
 6. The invention according to claim 1, the receiving portion including a channel shaped member.
 7. The invention according to claim 1, the stop means portion including a threaded aperture, the stop means including a bolt having a threaded body received within the aperture.
 8. The invention according to claim 6, a dielectric plug received within an aperture defined in said channel member, and having at least one electrical contact extending therethrough into the interior of said channel member. 